Greater Inwood - Houston, TX

Prior to being settled by German American farmers, this land was once the hunting grounds for Native Americans. For the next 100 years, the area was owned by the Fuchs family. In 1963, they sold the land to a real estate developer. This builder built homes for families of employees for the local oil and gas company. In 1975, the city of Houston annexed the land and added more than 2,000 more acres. Toward the late 1980s, the neighborhood experienced a slight decline. People started to migrate to other suburbs.

The neighborhood has picked back up and grown significantly since then. Apartment complexes were once only filled to 40 percent capacity, and now some are at 100 percent. Though new homes aren't often built, the older homes have been preserved.

Since Greater Inwood does not have much an arts scene, residents will have to travel to the inner city for museums and theater.

Casual dining options dominate the greater Inwood area. Not many fancy restaurants appear, but traveling a few minutes outside of town brings you to a few chain restaurants. Despite the lack of fine dining options, Inwood has a variety of eateries that can please even the pickiest eater.

Customers claim that Taqueria Rancho El Jalisco serves up the most authentic Mexican food in the area. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, patrons enjoy a variety of salsas and tacos. The reasonable prices make it a great option for feeding a large family or even for someone looking to grab a bite to eat. The friendly wait staff keeps patrons returning for more.

Stop in Cajun Town Cafe, and indulge in a heaping serving of chicken alfredo, or try the shrimp Creole for a regional treat. This Cafe also serves grilled salmon and other dishes for those who prefer more healthy options. Be warned, if you decide to visit during lunch, get there early as the place gets packed.

Take a break from the normal places, and get some of the best pizza in town at Lazaro's Pizza. This eatery has excellent customer service, reasonable prices and a variety of pizza toppings. Give pepperoni a break, and try the Mexican pizza or the Supreme.

The lack of bars and nightclubs in the greater Inwood area dampens the nightlife. Residents travel to 290 where they can find night life hot spots such as Brickhouse Tavern + Tap and Twin Peaks.

You will find that most locals drive around Greater Inwood. Ample parking can be found in surrounding parking lots and along the streets. Some lots do have fees, but street parking, for the most part, is free since there are no parking meters. Commuters have easy access to Interstate 45 and Highway 290, both leading to downtown Houston.

You won't be able to hail a cab but you can call and schedule a pick up. Schedule an Uber using a computer or smart phone. Public transportation stops can be found on almost every corner. Metro routes 085, 079 and 045 provide service to the area, bringing passengers all over the neighborhood and to key parts of the city such as the Medical Center or downtown.

Enjoy the great weather and walk or ride a bike to your destination. The neighborhood has sidewalks and biking lanes strategically placed, making the neighborhood safe for pedestrians.

Sylvester Turner Park plays a very important role to the Inwood Community. Located on West Little York, this park hosts annual events for the community such as Family Day and Fun Day. These free activities bring the people of the neighborhood together to unite and meet their neighbors. This park has a baseball field and hosts practices and camps with the Houston Astros.

The kid-friendly Aron Ledet Park features a playground and water spraygrounds, a perfect alternative to a pool during the hot summer months. The brightly covered play surfaces attract kids from all over the neighborhood seeking to get away from the heat. Open during the summer months, the sprayground is free to the public. The park also has picnic tables and a basketball court.

Though the cost of living in Greater Inwood is equal to the city average, residents do enjoy lower costs in other areas. With the lack of fine dining options and new homes, cost for goods remain low. The casual eateries do not have high prices and median rent for a one-bedroom apartment comes in at $480 which is a few hundred dollars less than the Houston median.

Getting to the city via Metro only costs about $3 round trip. Day passes can be purchased and allow passengers to ride the bus all day and have unlimited transfers for about $6. Though gas prices average about 5 percent above the national average, it is equal to the Houston average.

Most beers cost between $3 - $4, depending on the selection. This decreases during happy hour.

Shopping plentiful in Inwood. Walmart and Target provide daily household needs and groceries for the area. Food Fair and Foodarama can be found nearby as well. Despite the lack of a farmer's market, residents can still get fresh goods at the local grocery stores and other goods at the surrounding stores.

Stop in Lucrecia Fashion and find a colorful, formal dress for your next special event. This boutique specializes in Quinceaneras dresses, but they also have products for other special occasions. Don't get turned away from the theme; they have accessories, party favors and more.

Writer's Bloc is writer's heaven. This stationary store has specialty ink pens, journals and paper. Browse through their vast selection and find great gifts or something for yourself.